Sports hat side clip

ABSTRACT

Customizable sports hat side clips and connecting coverlets that can provide easily mounted promotional and/or decorative materials as well as very functional accessories that can easily be added to the hat.

This application claim priority of U.S. provisional 61/199,708 filed Nov. 19, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to promotional clip-on accessories for attachment to clothing and, more particularly, to a clip-on accessory for sport hats that provides an integral display panel for promotional purposes as well as functional capability for useful accessories.

2. Description of Related Art

Retailers often promote their products with colorful advertisements or logos. One example of that is by use of advertising clips attached to baseball hats.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,316 to Nathansen describes a promotional clip-on accessory that is adapted to fold around a hat strap to carry a display panel for displaying promotional material. The clip-on accessory is die cut from a vinyl plastic or cardstock sheet and is pre-scored to include two bi-fold hinges defining a central display panel and two opposite folding panels that are folded around the hat strap.

A number of other patents also focus on attaching various devices to a baseball hat strap. While functional, these devices are limited to the hat adjusting strap, which in normal baseball hats are limited to the back of the hat. In addition many of these devices lack functionality for a variety of applications.

It would be much more advantageous to provide a sports hat side clip that can provide easily mounted promotional and/or decorative materials as well as very functional accessories that can easily be added to the hat. How this can be accomplished is explained below.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

This need is met by a sports hat side clip assembly that provides integral displays including at least: a base component comprising; a clip portion and a plate portion, each having a first end and a second end, the clip and plate portions aligned in an approximately parallel configuration to fit on either side of a sports hat sweatband; the clip portion having a hook component on its first end for hooking over the inside of the sports cap headband; wherein the clip portion and the plate portion are fixedly joined at their respective second ends, forming a base component end; and a lanyard eyelet built into the base component end for attaching accessories; an attachable coverlet for attaching to exterior side of the plate portion facing out from the sports hat.

In another aspect of the invention the sports hat side clip assembly of further includes at least a wall portion having a first end and a second end, the wall portion fixedly joined at the second end to the base component end and extending in a configuration approximately parallel to and exterior to the plate portion.

In another aspect of the invention the attachable coverlet can be a outwardly curved surface which can be used for a variety of decorative purposes. It can also be transparent to allow images to be placed behind it for viewing.

In another aspect the sports hat side clip assembly can be used with a variety of accessories that are easily attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a coverlet for a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a sports hat side clip assembly illustrating a 3-D effect.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a clip portion of a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a coverlet for a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sports hat side clip assembly.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sports hat side clip assembly attached to a hat.

FIG. 12 illustrates from the underside of a hat the attachment to a sweatband.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

An understanding of the sports hat side clip proposed could be gained by reference to the figures that make up this disclosure. There are four sports hat side clip assemblies disclosed here but they are all part of the same inventive concept.

The proposed sports hat side clip assemblies are made of plastic or light weight metal (aluminum, titanium) that clips to the side of a hat. They are secured to the hat by a hook that hooks over the sweatband (inside). Four clips of different shapes are disclosed herein. Each clip has a removable coverlet that is removed by pressing down on the coverlet and lifting one side.

The sports hat side clip assemblies are created to provide two capabilities; a promotional/decorative one, and a functional one. The functional capability provides the possibility of easily adding certain functional accessories as well as multiple decorative possibilities.

The sports hat side clip assemblies become promotional when a sports team, organization, business or university logo is printed on the clip, or the coverlet. In addition to printing (pad and screen printing) they may be customized (decorated) with pressure sensitive labels, pressure sensitive rhinestones or crystal decals, fabric designs, etc.

The coverlets function is to provide a curved surface for printing and to provide a 3-dimensional effect when a clear or slightly tinted coverlet is used. This will enable the user to see two printed sources (coverlet and clip surface beneath). The third function of the coverlet is to provide individualization of the coverlet by using the photo insert slots built into the underside of the coverlet surface.

Referring now to the FIG. 1—the shield shaped side clip assembly 100, is seen in a side view. In its assembled version it is made up of a base component 105, which has a printable surface, and a separate attachable coverlet or exterior printable surface 110. Printable surface 110 faces out from the hat. The base component is made up of a plate portion 106 and a clip portion 107 that are fixedly joined at the base component end 108. Shield side clip assembly 100 is secured to the sports hat side wall 115 by a hook 120 that hooks over the sweatband 125 on the inside of the sports hat. At the base component end 108 of shield clip 100 is a lanyard eyelet accessory port 130—to allow the attachment of various accessories to the clip. The coverlet or front printable surface 110 becomes promotional when a sports team, organization, business or university logo is printed on it. In addition to printing (pad and screen printing) they may be customized (decorated) with pressure sensitive labels, pressure sensitive rhinestones or crystal decals, fabric designs, etc. Any of the sports hat side clips of the instant invention may be made of plastic or lightweight metal (aluminum, titanium) that clips to the side of a hat.

The printable surface 110 functions to provide a curved surface for printing and to provide a 3-dimensional effect when a clear or slightly tinted surface is used. This will enable the user to see two printed sources (the exterior surface 110 or the underlying clip surface 105). The third function of printable surface 110 is to provide individualization by using the photo insert slots built into the underside of printable surface 110. Printing surface 110 can be opaque or clear. FIG. 2, shown generally as 160, is a top view of the front printable surface (coverlet) 110 of the shield side clip assembly. Slots 170 are the photo insert slots that allow inserting die-cut photo-sheets that face outward through a clear covering. The clear version can also used when the underlying base piece is printed, allowing for a 3-dimensional effect. FIG. 3 illustrates the 3-dimensional effect, in which the coverlet exterior printable surface 180 (showing the number 9) might be a clear or tined polycarbonate and the underlying base showing through has an underlying display—in this case a star.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the sports hat side clip—referred to here as a shuffle clip, devoted entirely to holding an MP3 player such as an IPod Shuffle. The base component, shown generally as 200 is similar to base component 105 of the shield assembly in FIG. 1 but now the plate portion has an upper section 210, to which a printable surface can be attached and a lower section 220 designed to accept an MP3 player. A hook 225 is still included near the top of the clip portion that hooks over the sweatband on the inside of the hat as in the shield assembly of FIG. 1. A lanyard eyelet accessory port 230 can be used for attaching various accessories to the clip. The clips may be made of plastic or lightweight metal (aluminum, titanium) that clips to the side of a hat.

FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled shuffle assembly 250, with the upper curved printable surface 260 now attached. The upper printable surface 260 (or coverlet) becomes promotional when a sports team, organization, business or university logo is printed on it. As in the shield assembly, the coverlet can be opaque or clear. In addition to printing (pad and screen printing) they may be customized (decorated) with pressure sensitive labels, pressure sensitive rhinestones or crystal decals, fabric designs, etc. The coverlet can also provide a curved surface for printing and to provide a 3-dimensional effect when a clear or slightly tinted coverlet is used. This will enable the user to see two printed sources (coverlet and clip surface beneath). Surface 220 is an attaching surface for an MP3 player. FIG. 6 shows a top view of coverlet 260 of FIG. 5 illustrating the photo insert slots 270 that allow inserting die-cut photo-sheets that face outward through a clear covering.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the sports hat side clip—referred to here as the utility assembly is shown. The utility assembly has the same design features as the shield assembly except the shape is different and there is a third surface available for the attachment of modules. The utility assembly has a hook 310 serving the same function as the hook in the shield and shuffle assemblies, namely for attachment to a sports hat sweatband. A plate portion 320 extends up the middle and provides a place for attachment of a coverlet or upper printable surface 330. The third surface 340 also can be printed or decorated as well as have additional modules attached to it. At the bottom of the utility clip is shown the accessory port 350—for attaching various modules to the clip. The clips may be made of plastic or lightweight metal (aluminum, titanium) that clips to the side of a hat.

FIG. 8, shown generally as the numeral 400, is an assembled utility assembly, with the upper printable surface (coverlet) 330 and the third surface 340. Surface 340 becomes promotional when a sports team, organization, business or university logo is printed on it. In addition to printing (pad and screen printing) they may be customized (decorated) with pressure sensitive labels, pressure sensitive rhinestones or crystal decals, fabric designs, etc.

The coverlet or upper printable surface 330, functions to provide a curved surface for printing and to provide a 3-dimensional effect when a clear or slightly tinted coverlet is used, as described earlier in the description of the shield assembly. This will enable the user to see two printed sources (coverlet and clip surface beneath). The third function of the coverlet is to provide individualization of the coverlet by using the photo insert slots (identical to the slots shown in earlier embodiments in FIGS. 2 and 6) built into the underside of the coverlet surface. The coverlet can be opaque or clear. A clear coverlet is used when the underlying base piece is printed, allowing for the 3-dimensional effect. The 3-dimensional effect was shown earlier in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a fourth embodiment of the sports hat side clip—the jumbo assembly is shown. The purpose of the Jumbo is to provide a larger surface area printable surface (coverlet). The side view 500 includes, as in other embodiments, a plate portion 510 and a clip portion 520 with a hook 530 on the clip portion serving the same function as the hook in the shield, utility, and shuffle assemblies, namely for attachment to a sports hat sweatband. Attached to the front or exterior side of plate portion 510 is a printable surface or coverlet 540. An eyelet lanyard accessory port 545 is incorporated into the base component end.

An assembled jumbo assembly 600 is shown in a front perspective view in FIG. 10. The previous disclosures in the other embodiments regarding the possibilities for all types of labels, decals, decorations and 3-dimensional effects also apply to the jumbo assembly.

FIG. 11 illustrates a jumbo style clip assembly 710 attached to a baseball type hat 700. FIG. 12 illustrates that same clip from the underside of the hat showing the sweatband 810 and the clip part of the clip assembly 820 that is hooked over the sweatband.

Some of the attachable accessories are as follows. One of the assemblies, referred to here as the shuffle assembly, is devoted to holding an iPod Shuffle MP3 player. This accessory comes with two custom ear buds that eliminate the long cords associated with most iPods. Three other accessories that might go with the shuffle assembly are headbands, hats, and a wiring assembly that are designed specifically for use with the shuffle assembly and the iPod Shuffle.

Sunglass lanyards can be attached to the bottom of the clips and earplugs for ear protection can be dangled from the bottom of a clip attached to each side of the hat. These are for use for shooting or working around power equipment.

Other accessories include custom die-cut photo sheet (previously mentioned), adapter pin for converting a side clip to a lapel pin, a side clip with an attached EZ mark golf ball marker and divot tool.

Another embodiment of this disclosure is the use of custom die-cut photo sheets to provide photographs, nametags, badges, or any small quantity of personalized exhibits. A photo sheet can be printed on multicolor printer or photo printer and individual inserts can then be perforated out and inserted into any of the coverlets previously described and then be held in place by the photo slots shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

Although certain embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described herein in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, means, methods and steps described herein. As a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from this disclosure, other processes, machines, manufactures, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to include within the scope such processes, machines, manufactures, means, methods or steps. 

1. A sports hat side clip assembly that provides integral displays comprising: a. a base component comprising; i. a clip portion and a plate portion, each having a first end and a second end, said clip and plate portions aligned in an approximately parallel configuration to fit on either side of a sports hat sweatband; ii. said clip portion having a hook component on its first end for hooking over the inside of said sports cap headband; iii. wherein said clip portion and said plate portion are fixedly joined at their respective second ends, forming a base component end; and iv. a lanyard eyelet built into said base component end for attaching accessories; b. an attachable coverlet for attaching to exterior side of said plate portion facing out from said sports hat.
 2. The sports hat side clip assembly of claim 1 further comprising a wall portion having a first end and a second end, said wall portion fixedly joined at said second end to said base component end and extending in a configuration approximately parallel to and exterior to said plate portion.
 3. The sports hat side clip assembly of claim 1 further wherein said attachable coverlet provides an outwardly curved surface.
 4. The sports hat side clip assembly of claim 1 further wherein said attachable coverlet is opaque.
 5. The sports hat side clip assembly of claim 1 further wherein said attachable coverlet is transparent.
 6. The sports hat side clip assembly of claim 5 wherein said attachable transparent coverlet contains guide slots on interior side that allow decorative inserts that face outward through said transparent coverlet.
 7. The sports hat side clip assembly of claim 5 wherein exterior side of said plate portion exhibits a decorative effect that is visible through said attachable transparent coverlet. 